Objective
"MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel class of human disease genes that are key to a number of therapeutic areas in particular cancer, and also heart disease, infectious disease and ageing. Specifically, some miRNAs are known to regulate cancer therapeutic targets acting as tumour suppressors and some are prognostic and diagnostic markers of human disease. The requirement for targeted anti-cancer therapies to effect specific disease treatment is well established and considered a primary goal for moving cancer towards a treatable, controllable chronic condition.
miRNA-based therapeutics is a well-occupied space. However, existing commercial efforts and IP is focused on the use of oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide derivatives to inhibit or modulate the expression of miRNAs. Such efforts have been largely limited by the challenges associated with poor delivery.
Instead we have identified novel opportunities to target miRNA pathways using small molecules. Specifically, we discovered a novel class of enzymes (TUTases) that regulate miRNAs by terminal polyuridylation. We found that a specific member of this family (Tut4) acts to inhibit the tumour suppressor miRNA let-7 in a model organism and human cancer cells. TUTases likely provide multiple novel anti-cancer targets. For example, the Tutase Gld2 was recently shown to regulate the p53 tumour suppressor pathway by modifying the miR-122 miRNA.
We have developed an efficient in vitro assay of Tut4 activity. Here, we want to develop this assay into a high-throughput screening platform to identify small molecule inhibitors of Tutases. Such small molecules are proof-of-concept molecules for a novel anti-cancer strategy."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2012-PoC
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.